I'm not saying he's lying either - I'm just saying that perhaps PCL is more to blame that you let on earlier in the thread. I also wonder if he understands that the schedule has nothing to do with the air time that is found on the release. The marketing times are fixed, the actual block time will vary as will the airtime on the release and what is actually flown. Again, this is a small tid bit of info to help make or brake PCLs case against DL.

My whole point is that this could very well be an actual problem for PCL and not smoke and mirrors as you suggest in the very beginning of the thread. Maybe the is the catalyst PCL needs to aactually FIX all their problems and stop using duct tape to plug the hole in the dyke. Operational problems at PCL are nothing new, but they keep applying band-aids. Perhaps this is a wake up call to mgmt that it's time for a fair contract and that they can't continue to blame the pilots for every one of THEIR missteps.

As for what to do with these planes... there are only 3 airlines they can fly them for. DL, NW and US. I go back to one of my original theories... what if they take them and fly them for US? Through dropping all these 900s onto the NWA side of things might be attractive for NWA. I don't think finding a home for these planes will be as easy as you think.

I know at XJT, CAL gives us all the flights we need to cover and then our Union and crew planners build the schedules for all the bases. Not sure how Delta can really be at fault here. My guess is Pinnacle management is to blame for not staffing correctly, trying to bleed every ounce out of their pilots they can. Sorry guys, but that is what it looks like.

that would be good if you guys were right. i am sure management has known about this for a more than a couple of days. and management and our negotiating team have been in new orleans since yesturday morning working on the contract. maybe we will finally see somthing come of this. it would be nice.

Yeah, like a serving of an x'celed DAL flying contract, some furloughs, and a side of scare tacticts please. Don't worry, we'll all have our 500 pilot jobs back (9E Management conducted an 'emergency' call today--can you feel the announcement coming?) after we sign the pathetic contract.

I agree this definatly seems like scare tactics. Remember that Delta's CEO and PT were college roomies, we really haven't lost anything with Delta since they will inherit our NWA contract.

Ebl14 - you're forgetting that NWA (next Delta) will also own the 200s you fly now for NWA. I would imagine that there will be renegotiations of the agreement that PCL and NWA have when NWA becomes the new Delta. Don't kid yourself... everything will be examined for cost savings. This could be a perfect opportunity to give PCL the boot for good. I'm just sayin'...

I hope this turn of events opens the eyes to the PCl cheerleaders here that no "10 year agreement" is safe.

BTW - for the people who think wholly owned carriers ought to be scared: do you think the new DL would rather pay a subcontracted company a cost plus agreement that guarentees that subcontractor profits whilst the mainline carrier sheds the entire burden for fuel? Or would they rather spread the costs over the mainline operation as well as the wholly owned Airlink/Connection carriers?

With fuel the way it is... the game rules have changed. While they might have been eager to shed wholly owned carriers in the past, they might be rethinking that strategy at this time.

well bored i gave you a chance. i took you off my ignore list for this thread to see if you had something useful. but nope, you are just here to continue your pinnacle bashing and tell everyone how good a position mesaba is in again. sorry to do it but you have to go back on the ignore list. whats bad is you are the only one there. i know you dont care but now i remember why i put you there in the first place.

Wow - Pinnacle bashing eh? I think you're being overly sensitive. But if you believe anything negative towards PCL, even if it could be the truth or a differing opinion from your own is bashing... then carry on with ignoring me. If you can't see another angle towards a situation or refrain from flying off the handle then you sir, are not even worth having a discussion with.

I was just pointing out the obvious... there could be a change in thinking the values of wholly owned carriers vs. contract carriers. If you find that insulting or as PCL bashing you need thicker skin. I don't know any more than you do with respect to the outcome of the new Delta Connection, but I do know that this is a perfect opportunity to change the way DL does business.

My last post made no mention of Mesaba. Once again, you miss the point and cannot see the big picture. But that's ok, put your head back in the sand, take a pull off of the uncle Phil kool-aid and enjoy the ride.

I looked at the block times and scheduling on the route mentioned plus past history. The Pinnacle flight has typically been blocked at 6 to 8 minutes longer the the Delta MD-88 flying the route before it. The Delta flight is leaving at a more congested time so the block times appear to be very realistic now and in the past.

70 pilots for 9 acft.... seems very thin manning to me..... that certainly isnt helping matters.....